robertbruce

Can you plug a run flat tire?

Walt White Coupe

Unless the puncture is in the outer most or inner most tread block, most manufacturers say they can be plugged with a "mushroom" type plug put in the hole from the inside of the tire.

Spice red Ed

During the first 75 miles, I picked up a drill bit in the rear tire. The tire shop plugged the tire then removed and put a patch on the inside. After 1700 miles I have had no trouble with the fix. They said that is the way they always do the job.

rcooper

Do as above post stated. That is the best way.

Richard Ames

Inside the tread rib on the sidewall can be patched as stated above. I got a 1/4 inch bolt in the middle of a Good Year Run Flat was patched with a nipple type patch and driven a year with no problem.

TEXHAWK0

The modern one piece patch/plug combination can be a permanent repair for any tire.
The plug seals the hole so water cannot get into the laminations of the tire, and also helps hold the patch in place on the inside of the tire.
I think the sealant they use actually vulcanizes and becomes part of the tire.

MikeyTX

^^^ This

Zymurgy

Run flat repair policies by manufacturer:



Combination plug/patch is the proper repair:

Red08

I don't know why you couldn't if its not on the side wall portion. I have a few tires plugged over the years, and never had any issues.

robertbruce

Thanks for all of your replies. This is what I ended up doing. I live in the sticks and I would not let any tire shop in the next town twenty miles away touch my tires. Denver is 200 miles away. So I plugged it just like I do with my tractor and truck tires. I drove seventy five miles on the tire this afternoon stopping every ten miles to check out the tire and the pressure. Seems to be doing fine. So hopefully it will last until I get my next Z or GS.

MikeyTX

You do have a Discount Tire in Cheyenne, WY. Heck of a lot closer than the mile high as you mention. And they do know how to properly do the patch/plug install.

Davenport Z06

I had a tire shop patch one of my run flats in the past. never had an issue with it. I wouldn't use a plug.

owc6

A Run Flat tire can be repaired exactly the same as a non RF, Meaning a puncture, of the same size, in the same place can be plug/patched (which is the proper repair) just the same. On both, you can only repair the puncture if in the tread, not on the sidewall.

You will lose your speed rating just the same as if this was a non RF tire. Which means very little to the vast majority of us who don't track our vehicles.